Approximately 24,000 PG&E customers still without power

Approximately 24,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers remained without power in the Bay Area Tuesday night due to storm-related outages, a utility spokeswoman said.

The numbers fluctuated as the storm continues to move through the region, but as of 9:30 p.m. outages were affecting about 14,000 South Bay customers, 5,300 customers on the Peninsula, 2,100 in the East Bay, 1,900 in the North Bay and 1,400 in San Francisco, PG&E spokeswoman Katie Romans said.

“As the storm continues to move, we're going to continue to move crews to restore power where needed,'' Romans said. “And right now that's really in the South Bay.''

The utility is telling customers to anticipate an extended outage, Romans said. Tuesda morning's outages were largely the result of heavy rain, but “the wind started becoming a factor” around 11 a.m., she said.

The utility is encouraging customers to be prepared with flashlights, battery-powered radios and, of course, extra batteries.

Romans said approximately 193,000 PG&E customers were affected in the Bay Area at some point throughout the day.